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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs. Rammie Marcelli" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <mrs.rammiemarcelli@yahoo.com.mx>
Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2013 20:18:38 +0200
Subject: Confidential Letter
Dear Sir/Madam,
CLASSIFIED
Please permit me to make your acquaintance in so informal a manner as necessitated by my urgent need to reach a dependable and trust worthy foreign partner in this crucial time. This request may be strange and unsolicited but I will crave your indulgence and pray that you view it seriously. My name is Rammie Marcelli. I am a senior special aide and close confidant to late Khamis Gaddafi who was killed during the Libya war in 2011. Late Commander Khamis Gaddafi was the youngest son of Col. Muammar Gaddafi. He was the commander of the Libyan Army's elite KHAMIS Brigade before his untimely death.
Before the UN Security Council No-fly Zone was passed over Libyan on 17 March 2011 Commander Khamis Gaddafi moved abroad US$36Million to buy arms. The money was put under my custody as a front and close confidant of the commander. The money was meant for the purchase of some special arms and ammunition for his command. Our negotiations with the suppliers were at its early stage when incidentally the NO-Fly zone and arm embargo was imposed on Libya government by United Nation Security Council. Commander Khamis is dead and the money is abandoned.
The money is currently kept in a Security and Finance Company outside Libya. I am in need of a reliable and trustworthy foreign partner who can assist me to move the money out of the Security and Finance Company to his private or company account abroad for safety-keeping and maximum protection. I have the relevant deposit papers required to claim the funds from the Security and Finance Company.
Though we have neither seen nor met each other before but i believe with trust and understanding, we can do business together. I would be glad if you accept my offer and give me the assistance and cooperation i need from you. I would want us to work as a team and ensure the successful transfer of the fund to a safe custody in your country. Your entitlement is guaranteed.
Thus, if you are willing to assist me move the money into your business, please contact me through my email address so that I can give you more information and to enable us discuss the modalities. I am also willing to discuss with you what will be your share (percentage) for your assistance and roles. I must use this opportunity and medium to implore you to exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinarily confidential, whatever your decision is, while I await your prompt response.
Thanking you in advance
Mrs. Rammie Marcelli
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